The Salesians Preparatory School was in Cedar Lake, Indiana. In the 1950s, the property was bought by the Catholic Salesian Order of New York. The family home on the property was torn down and a four story school and supporting buildings were built.
The school operated for 20 years as a boys' junior and senior high school. There were both boarding and day students from throughout Lake County. The grounds were used for summers camps as well.
In 1979, the Salesian Provincial Offices in New York decided to close the school. It seems like this decision was unexpected, but was announced before the end of the school year.
In the following years, several attempts have been made to utilize the property. Among the proposed uses are a health care facility, youth center, religious institution and, most recently, a haunted house and paintball range. However no sale has ever been finalized in years. The property was purchased by one woman, who then lost it several years later to unpaid taxes. Yet, somehow, she and her estate have managed to block all attempts to purchase the property. Or, is it the ghosts?
Rumors abound about this property. Some say that at night, you can hear the screams of the boys being tortured by the deranged priest who headed the school. Some say that it wasn't actually a school at all, but rather an insane asylum, and that the screams are of the patients trapped and tortured. There have been allegations of abuse as well.
In 2000, radio talk show host, Mancow Muller, did a show talking about the haunted school and encouraged callers to share their stories. Interest was renewed in the site and police presence had to be increased.
I personally have been on the grounds in 1997, when a friend was in the process of purchasing the property. I have never seen any paranormal activity. I was more concerned by the condition of the buildings and the fact that the lower levels were mostly filled with water. Who knows what diseases might be brewing in there?
The school operated for 20 years as a boys' junior and senior high school. There were both boarding and day students from throughout Lake County. The grounds were used for summers camps as well.
In 1979, the Salesian Provincial Offices in New York decided to close the school. It seems like this decision was unexpected, but was announced before the end of the school year.
In the following years, several attempts have been made to utilize the property. Among the proposed uses are a health care facility, youth center, religious institution and, most recently, a haunted house and paintball range. However no sale has ever been finalized in years. The property was purchased by one woman, who then lost it several years later to unpaid taxes. Yet, somehow, she and her estate have managed to block all attempts to purchase the property. Or, is it the ghosts?
Rumors abound about this property. Some say that at night, you can hear the screams of the boys being tortured by the deranged priest who headed the school. Some say that it wasn't actually a school at all, but rather an insane asylum, and that the screams are of the patients trapped and tortured. There have been allegations of abuse as well.
In 2000, radio talk show host, Mancow Muller, did a show talking about the haunted school and encouraged callers to share their stories. Interest was renewed in the site and police presence had to be increased.
The school has earned a place in the Indiana Ghost Trackers website as well as the Haunted House Blog and Indiana Ghost Stories.
I personally have been on the grounds in 1997, when a friend was in the process of purchasing the property. I have never seen any paranormal activity. I was more concerned by the condition of the buildings and the fact that the lower levels were mostly filled with water. Who knows what diseases might be brewing in there?